This Is This

I used to have a teacher at my school called Pauline. She was everything a teacher should be: supportive, compassionate, dynamic, interesting and interested.

She also had an element of the funk about her. She was into folk music and knew a lot of musicians and helped out in the management side of things where she could. She was into contemporary folk music and she knew a lot about it. This was back in 1987 when folk music wasn’t really cool. De La Soul was bubbling under and Steeleye Span weren’t exactly a threat.

She knew musicians and industry people, and was friends with the folks at the Cooking Vinyl label. So when she played me a preview copy of Michelle Shocked’s Texas Campfire Tapes I knew I had to start listening to what Pauline had to say.

“Folk music is cool. How about that?” I thought.

Then she told me about a band called Les Negresses Vertes. “Edgy name,” I thought, “this can’t be folk music.”

“Yeah,” she assured me, “They sing in French and they are very political. They play at folk festivals all over and their singer is a former heroin addict.”

“Folk festivals?” I thought, “It’s nearly 1988, for God’s sake.”

Then she gave me a tape (when’s the last time someone gave you a tape?) of Ladysmith Black Mambaso, who I knew from Graceland, but ooooooh mama. Folk music. How about that?

Oh, and did she mention she was friends with Rory Gallagher, and through him Ry Cooder? Eventually, yeah.

She followed up with a tape by Ali Farka Toure, which blew me away.

I had been a member of jazz club Ronnie Scotts since I was a kid and when I saw he was playing there, I went with my dad and girlfriend to see him. I didn’t care that my dad was coming on a date with me. I didn’t care that he may not like this guitarist from Mali (he did). I did not care that I would not be able to keep my eyes open at school the next day.

Ali was amazing, just one guy and his guitar and another on the calabash (percussion gourd) and two blissful smiles. So it is with both sadness and fondness that I learned this week that he died aged 66, leaving behind another pin in the music map and many happy listeners.

Seems fitting to post some lyrics:

You have to work hard to achieve a sense of well being.

You should dedicate yourself to the work which brings you happiness.

When the community needs you, you should not turn a blind eye.

Every job has its worth and everyone should make their contribution.

Gomni - Ali Farka Toure